I just got back from C4 in Chicago this past weekend. On the trip to Chicago my baggage was delayed and did not arrive until the next flight, while on the way back the plane arrived at Chicago late, and then we sat on the plane at the gate for at least 45 minutes while the captain waited for a fuel slip. This got me wondering if there was a better way for this trip.
So, I was just looking at Amtrak’s options. It turns out that direct service to Chicago on the Cardinal would take 27 hours. 27 HOURS for direct service! Routes that change in Pittsburgh or New York or Washington are a little faster, but still take at least 18 hours. I figure that between getting up at 5 AM to make it to the airport and waiting for my baggage to catch up at the other end, and then taking CTA into the heart of Chicago, I spent 10 hours getting to Chicago by airplane. It cost about the same, and I had at least 8 hours less travel than by train.
Airport delays are no fun, but this gives me a new perspective on the situation.